Friday, January 4, 2013

Happy New Year! And On to New Adventures

HAPPY NEW YEARS!! I've worked the last 6 days straight and am about to leave on another 3-day trip to the Surin Islands, so I've been a bit slow in wishing you all a happy new year. 2012 was incredible and I'm so excited to see what 2013 will bring! My first day of the new year involved a catamaran ride to the Similan Islands and a day in the sun snorkeling; the last 3 days have been in the Surin Islands as well. GORGEOUS!

The view from my tent. What a tropical paradise!

The Mokan people are the only inhabitants of the Surin Islands where they built stilt houses after the tsunami in 2004. They used to live only on boats and are known as the "sea gypsies," and now their permanent settlement shows their way of life in boat building and palm weaving. I escorted 2 families and one honeymooning couple around for 3 days and had a lovely time; they were very open to new experiences and food, and they were very enthusiastic. Overall, it's been a FABULOUS 2013 thus far and I can't believe this is my job!

Mokan women selling weavings

Mokan totems

Stilt houses (they have solar panels!)

Boat building

Kitty cat

THAI BABIES ARE SO CUTE!

There are some impressive mangroves right by the tents and we hiked through them during high tide, when baby black tip reef sharks come in to hunt. The sharks are adorable and look like little wind-up sea creatures. Amazing!

Mangroves

BABY SHARK WOAH!

The view from my tent at dawn during low tide

I hope you enjoy the photos - I definitely pinch myself and wonder how I'm getting paid (granted, not much... but still) to show people how beautiful Thailand can be. Come visit! You'll love it :) I certainly am!